Flexible coupling for vehicle bogies



Oct. 8, 1935. E. R. HocKlNG FLEXIBLE coUPLING FOR VEHICLE BOGIES Filed April l0, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ff W. Ww E652@ Oct. 8, 1935. E. L. R. HocKlNG FLEXIBLE COUPLING FOR VEHICLE BOGIES Filed April 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if l# f l Patented oct. s, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ernest Leopold Ranfurly Hocking, Wellington,

l New Zealand Application April 10, 1934, Serial No. 719,965 En New Zealand May 4, 1933 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle bogies in which the wheels are mounted whereby freedom of movement is obtained of the wheel axles. The invention particularly relates to that type of bogie 5 in whichthe axles for the wheels are carried by side beams which have journal ends extending lengthwise thereof and which carry a journal member from which axles are supported, so as to allow rocking movement of the journal member.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of these devices and to give greater flexibility in the joint between the axle housing and the beam to aid in passing over obstructions and also in order to ensure the better tracking of the bogie wheels, particularly in the case of the vehicle following a curve, as in turning.

According to my invention, means are provided whereby the wheel axles are free to have a limited lateral movement relatively to the side beams, so as to permit of the lateral axial movement of the axles in order that the rear wheels of the bogie will follow the radius of the front wheels thereof.

In carrying out the invention, the side beams of the frame have provided at their ends journals with a longitudinal axis, and upon these journals are mounted brackets each having journal openings parallel With the journal ends of the beam to receive pins or stub axles from a ring fitted as a bearing to the wheel axle housing. These brackets act as links between the wheel axles and the side beam journals.

The invention will be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a road vehicle bogie.

Figure 2 is a plan.

Figure 3 is a cross section through a bracket and ring upon the wheel axle housing.

Figure 4 is an end view of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the bracket to which the beams are anchored.

Figures 6 to 8 are diagrams.

Referring to the drawings, the side frames consist of beams I mounted to rock pivotally on a transverse shaft 2 fixed in brackets Il to which springs 3 are attached, the springs being attached 50 at their ends to the chassis 5 (see Figures 1 and 5).

At each end of the beams I are provided integral journal ends 6, each of which receives a sleeve 'I to rotate thereon and on this sleeve brackets 8 are placed. These brackets are in two parts, thelower end of each having bosses 9 with (Cl. 28o-124) internal cylindrical bearing surfaces to ilt and rotate on the sleeve 1 and held in position by a plate I0 held by a nut I I. The upper ends of the brackets t have journal openings I2` parallel with the axis of the journal ends B. 'Ihese jour- 5 nal openings I2 receive stub axles I3 of a bearing ring I 3 formed in two parts secured together by bolts IB passing through lugs I 1, and having a plate' Ita and nut Ila thereon to prevent the brackets spreading. When the two parts of the 10 ring are bolted over the wheel axle housing 22a,

it will :formy a bearing and support for the axle housing with freedom for any rotatory movement that may take place.

Oil ducts I8 in the journal ends 6 of the beams 15 lead to the journal surfaces on which the sleeves run, while a grease nipple I9 is formed on the stud II which is hollow to permit the grease to pass to the ducts I8. Other ducts 20 in the stub axles I3 lead to the bearing surfaces thereof, 20 the exterior being provided with grease nipples 2l. The wheel axles are referenced 22 and the wheels 23a.

The driving gear for the axles is contained in the housings 22a of the axles, and in the case 25 of both axles being driven, the shaft 30 between the two axles has two universal joints 3l to make it flexible in order to allow of movement of one housing relative to the other. It also is provided with a, certain amount of extensibility, since the 30 lateral movements of the Wheel axles lengthen or shorten the distance between the two universal joints. The usual driving shaft 32 has a universal joint 33 at its end. Torque rods 34 are provided on the transverse shaft 2 and on the housings 22a 35 as shown, these being necessary since these housings are movable relatively to the side beams I.

Upon a wheel 23a at one end of the wheel axle 22 sinking, or the other one rising, as in the case of passing over a depression or obstruction (see 40 Figure 6), the Wheel axle 22 is thrown out of its normal horizontal position, as in dotted lines in the diagram, the journal end of the beam rising to the position indicated at 24; the brackets 8 acting as links permit the axle to move laterally 45 and both Wheels to assume a tilted angle from the vertical without the tread of the wheel passing out of alignment with the track, thus avoiding the tread being forced sideways on the track.

Figure 8 indicates how the bogie Wheels Wil150 track when the vehicle is following a curve or turning. The brackets 8 of the front axle of the bogie swing towards one side, as in full lines in Figure 7, and the brackets ofthe rear axle swing to the other side, as in dotted lines in 55 Figure 7, so that the rear wheels follow the track of the front wheels of the bogie and no skid, or very little, will-take place.

If desired, a helper spring 25 (see Figure 1) may be used between the spring 3 and the chassis. I

What I claim isz- Y 1. In a vehicle having a chassis, the combination oi' side beams provided with journals at their ends, means for medially connecting the beams to the chassis, a pair of parallel tandem axles provided with wheels and housings and parallel linked connections pivotally connecting the ends of each axle housing to the corresponding ends of the side beams, each link including a ring-like member pivotally mounted in said link and in alignment with the adjacent journal of the side beams and supported on the axle housing, and each link provided with a bearing for receiving the journals whereby the axles may move laterally of the chassis.

2. n a vehicle having a chassis, the combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring-like members for supporting the axle housings include two semi-circular members, each provided with stub axles and wherein each link is U- shaped, the two armsbeing provided with bearings for receiving the stub axles.

3. In a vehicle having a chassis, the combination as claimed in claim 1, including a transverse shaft mounted on the chassis, the side beams being medially and pivotally connected to said transverse shaft and torque rods pivotally connected to said shaft and to the axle housings.

4. In a vehicle havinga chassis, the combination as claimed in claim 1 including differential driving means in engagement with each axle,

and a flexible shaft connecting said differential 15 driving means.

5. In a vehicle having a chassis, the combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for medially connecting the beams to the chassis include a main leaf spring and a supplemental 20 helper leaf spring.

ERNEST L. R. HOCKING. 

